Lyall F. Smith (November 22, 1914 – October 8, 1991) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

sports writer and editor. He was the sports editor and columnist for the

Detroit Free Press The ''Detroit Free Press'' is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, US. The Sunday edition is titled the ''Sunday Free Press''. It is sometimes referred to as the Freep (reflected in the paper's web address, www.freep.com). It primari ...

from 1945 to 1965 and the president of the

Baseball Writers' Association of America The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) is a professional association for journalists writing about Major League Baseball for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying websites. The organization was founded in 1908, and is known fo ...

from 1955 to 1956. He later served as the public relations director and business manager for the

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team play their home games at Ford ...

from 1965 to 1980.

Early years

A native of

Peoria, Illinois Peoria ( ) is the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, United States, and the largest city on the Illinois River. As of the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census, the city had a population of 113,150. It is the principal city of the Peoria ...

, he attended

Bradley University Bradley University is a private university in Peoria, Illinois. Founded in 1897, Bradley University enrolls 5,400 students who are pursuing degrees in more than 100 undergraduate programs and more than 30 graduate programs in five colleges. The ...

and the

University of Illinois The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the University ...

. He was inducted into the Bradley University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1950. Smith began his career in journalism as a reporter for the ''

Chicago Daily News The ''Chicago Daily News'' was an afternoon daily newspaper in the midwestern United States, published between 1875 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois. History The ''Daily News'' was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty ...

''. He spent seven years with the ''Chicago Daily News'' from 1938 to 1945. He claimed to have given the "Whiz Kids" nickname to the 1943 Illinois basketball team.

Detroit Free Press

In March 1945, Smith was hired as the sports editor and columnist at the ''

'', a position he held until 1965. During his time with the ''Free Press'' Smith was included in the committee of baseball writers charged with selecting the American League Most Valuable Player. In 1947, Smith became involved in a controversy over competing claims to the national collegiate football championship by undefeated teams from Notre Dame and

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

. Notre Dame was ranked No. 1 in the final regular season

AP Poll The Associated Press poll (AP poll) provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling 62 sportswriters and broadca ...

, but Michigan went on to defeat

USC USC most often refers to: * University of South Carolina, a public research university ** University of South Carolina System, the main university and its satellite campuses **South Carolina Gamecocks, the school athletic program * University of ...

by a score of 49-0 in the Rose Bowl. Smith urged the

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...

to conduct a post-bowl poll, arguing that Michigan had defeated three common opponents by larger margins than Notre Dame and had a tougher schedule. After Smith's comments, the AP agreed to conduct a post-bowl poll, the first of its kind, and Michigan was selected as the national champion in that poll by a vote of 226 to 119. After the results were tallied, Smith wrote in ''The Sporting News'', "Michigan won another football battle!" Also in January 1947, Smith broke the story of the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

' decision to sell

Hank Greenberg Henry Benjamin Greenberg (born Hyman Greenberg; January 1, 1911 – September 4, 1986), nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank", "Hankus Pankus", or "The Hebrew Hammer", was an American professional baseball player and team executive. He played in Major Leagu ...

to the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

. Smith reported that Tigers owner Walter O. Briggs had read comments from Greenberg about his desire to play for the Yankees and concluded that "Greenberg was ungrateful, unkind and unfair to Detroit," and ordered the team's general manager to "get rid of Hank." In August 1948, three days after the death of

Babe Ruth George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Su ...

from cancer, Smith proposed that Major League Baseball designate September 30, 1948 as "Babe Ruth Day" and that all proceeds from games played on that day be donated to cancer research. Smith's 1948 tribute to

Harry Heilmann Harry Edwin Heilmann (August 3, 1894 – July 9, 1951), nicknamed "Slug", was an American baseball player and radio announcer. He played professional baseball for 19 years between 1913 and 1932, including 17 seasons in Major League Baseball with ...

, former batting champ and radio voice of the tigers, was published in ''The Sporting News''. Smith wrote:

" is so good that if he gets any better there'll be no more attendance records set at
Briggs Stadium Tiger Stadium, previously known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium located in the Corktown, Detroit, Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. The stadium was nicknamed "The Corner" for its location at the intersection of U. ...
. After all, who wants to leave that nice, soft easy chair to be pushed around with 50,000 other fans when he can stay right at home and get a word picture ... with anectodes ... of the game. Only thing wrong with his broadcasts is that you hate to get out of your chair and rush to the ice box to get a bottle of that cool stuff he mentions now and then."

In October 1954, Smith was elected as the vice president of the

. In the spring of 1955, Smith asked readers to submit ideas for a nickname for the Tigers' star right-fielder

Al Kaline Albert William Kaline ( ; December 19, 1934 – April 6, 2020), nicknamed "Mr. Tiger", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers. For most of his career, Kal ...

. From the submissions, Smith chose "Salty," which the reader explained, "After all, salt means alkaline." In September 1955, he was elected as the president of the

and served in that role in 1956. Smith also served as a director of the

Football Writers Association of America The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) is an organization of college football media members in the United States founded in 1941. It is composed of approximately 1,200 professional sports writers from both print and Internet media out ...

for several years. Smith was chosen as the chief scorer for the 1956 World Series, and was the scorer for

Don Larsen Don James Larsen (August 7, 1929 – January 1, 2020) was an American professional baseball pitcher. During a 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he pitched from 1953 to 1967 for seven different teams: the St. Louis Browns / Baltimore O ...

's perfect game in the World Series. Fellow sportswriter

Arthur Daley ''Minder'' is a British comedy-drama series about the London Organized crime, criminal underworld. Initially produced by Verity Lambert, it was made by Euston Films, a subsidiary of Thames Television, and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV for ten ...

noted, "By the ninth inning, the most nervous people in the ball park, bar none, were the three official scorers, Lyall Smith of Detroit and his two assistants ... They were terrified that a questionable decision would confront them and ruin Larsen's performance for posterity." Larsen, too, acknowledged that he was not the only nervous person at Yankee Stadium as the game progressed, acknowledging the scrutiny that would be given to any close calls by Smith as he sat in the press box as the official scorer. In May 1965, Smith was chosen to serve a five-year term on the board of directors of the

Michigan Sports Hall of Fame The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame to honor Michigan sports athletes, coaches and contributors. It was organized in 1954 by Michigan Lieutenant Governor Philip Hart, Michigan State University athletic director Biggie Munn, presid ...

Detroit Lions

In September 1965, Smith left the Free Press to accept a position as the public relations director for the

. In January 1967, Smith took on the additional title and responsibility as the Lions' business manager. Over the next 15 years, Smith was employed by the Lions as their public relations director, business manager, and director of marketing. When the Lions moved to the

Pontiac Silverdome The Pontiac Silverdome (also known simply as the Silverdome) was a stadium in Pontiac, Michigan. It opened in 1975 and sat on 199 acres (51 ha) of land. When the stadium opened, it featured a fiberglass fabric roof held up by air pressure, ...

in 1975, Smith was responsible for coordinating the move and organized an exhibition day game in August 1975 for fans to orient themselves and tour the new facility. He remained with the Lions throughout the 1970s.

Death

Smith died of heart failure in 1991 at

Henry Ford Hospital Henry Ford Hospital (HFH) is an 877-bed tertiary care hospital, education and research complex at the western edge of the New Center area in Detroit, Michigan. The flagship facility for the Henry Ford Health System, it was one of the first hos ...

in Detroit.

Selected articles by Smith

My Greatest Diamond Thrill, By Lou Boudreau, As Told To Lyall Smith: Long Homers Off Rigney Gave Shortstop Top Kick
(

Lou Boudreau Louis Boudreau (July 17, 1917 – August 10, 2001), nicknamed "Old Shufflefoot", "Handsome Lou", and "The Good Kid", was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 15 seasons, primarily as a ...

), ''

The Sporting News The ''Sporting News'' is a website and former magazine publication owned by Sporting News Holdings, which is a U.S.-based sports media company formed in December 2020 by a private investor consortium. It was originally established in 1886 as a pr ...

'', November 18, 1943, page 9
Tar Explosion Blew Roy Hughes Back Into Big Time
( Roy Hughes), ''

'', July 27, 1944, page 6
Wanted: First Base Idol
''

Baseball Digest ''Baseball Digest'' is a baseball magazine resource, published in Orlando, Florida by Grandstand Publishing, LLC. It is the longest-running baseball magazine in the United States. History and profile It was created by Herbert F. Simons, a spor ...

'', April 1948
Basemen Beware!
''Baseball Digest'', May 1948
Rowdy Richard Tells About a $1,050 Row: Run-In With Umpire Cost Bartell Chance for .300 Mark and Pay Raise -- Fined $50
(

Dick Bartell __NOTOC__ Richard William Bartell (November 22, 1907 – August 4, 1995), nicknamed "Rowdy Richard", was an American professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop from to . One of the ...

), ''The Sporting News'', December 29, 1948, page 6
The 'Sec' Is an Aspirin Man
''Baseball Digest'', March 1949
Kell Calls Greenberg Greatest Sign-Stealer
(

George Kell George Clyde Kell (August 23, 1922 – March 24, 2009) was an American Major League Baseball third baseman who played 15 seasons for the Philadelphia Athletics (1943–1946), Detroit Tigers (1947–1952), Boston Red Sox (1952–1954), Chicago W ...

), ''The Sporting News'', April 6, 1949, page 2
Groth Detroit's Biggest Rave Since Cobb
(

Johnny Groth John Thomas Groth (July 23, 1926August 7, 2021) was an American professional baseball outfielder and scout who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played with the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Washingt ...

), ''The Sporting News'', May 4, 1949, page 3
Gray Brightens Tigers Mound Picture
(

Ted Gray Ted Glenn Gray (December 31, 1924 – June 15, 2011) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played eight seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1946, 1948–1954), and then had short stints during the 1955 season with the Chicago White Sox, Clevela ...

), ''The Sporting News'', May 25, 1949, page 3
Veeck Loses Midas Touch
(

Bill Veeck William Louis Veeck Jr. ( ; February 9, 1914 – January 2, 1986), also known as "Sport Shirt Bill", was an American Major League Baseball franchise owner and promoter. Veeck was at various times the owner of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Br ...

), ''The Sporting News'', June 1, 1949, page 12
Bengals' Late Blaze Kindled By Red-Head Rolfe
(

Red Rolfe Robert Abial "Red" Rolfe (October 17, 1908 – July 8, 1969) was an American third baseman, manager and front-office executive in Major League Baseball. A graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, Rolfe also was an Ivy Leaguer: a graduate, then long- ...

), ''The Sporting News'', September 21, 1949, page 5
Matty Just a 'Cousin' to Brownie
(

Christy Mathewson Christopher Mathewson (August 12, 1880 – October 7, 1925), nicknamed "Big Six", "the Christian Gentleman", "Matty", and "the Gentleman's Hurler", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher, who played 17 seasons with the New York Giant ...

), ''Baseball Digest'', July 1949
Onus the Bonus
''Baseball Digest'', June 1950
Art Off to Fast Start, Shows Fine Control
(

Art Houtteman Arthur Joseph Houtteman (August 7, 1927 – May 6, 2003) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for 12 seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles. In 32 ...

), ''The Sporting News'', June 14, 1950, page 5
Kell Pounds Out Hits and Sports Columns, Too
(

), ''The Sporting News'', July 5, 1950, page 1
Why Not Play 154 Games?
''Baseball Digest'', November 1950
How Can Michigan Ever Forget 'Forgotten' Man
( Carl Kreager/ Snow Bowl), ''The Sporting News'', December 6, 1950, page 54
Three Clubs Hit $600,000 Pay
''Baseball Digest'', March 1951&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAjge#v=onepage&q=lyall%20smith&f=false Onus the Bonus], ''Baseball Digest'', June 1950
$30,000 Outside Job Offer Tempted Hal to Quit Game
(

Hal Newhouser Harold Newhouser (May 20, 1921 – November 10, 1998), nicknamed "Prince Hal," was an American professional baseball player. In Major League Baseball (MLB), he pitched 17 seasons on the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians, from 1939 through 1 ...

), ''The Sporting News'', March 7, 1951, page 21
'Be Yourself,' Move Up Spot in Flag Race, Tigers Advised
( 1951 Detroit Tigers), ''The Sporting News'', March 21, 1951, page 19
Tiger Rookie Hoeft, 18, Given Chance to Win Place on Roster: Kid Phenom Faced All 27 Batters He Faced in Wisconsin School Game
(

Billy Hoeft William Frederick Hoeft (May 17, 1932 – March 16, 2010) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball whose career spanned 15 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Braves, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giant ...

), ''The Sporting News'', March 28, 1951, page 7
Williams' Homer Made '41 All-Star Game Tops
(

Ted Williams Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, primarily as a left fielder, for the Boston Red Sox from 1939 ...

), ''The Sporting News'', July 11, 1951, page 4
The Trouble with the Red Sox
''Baseball Digest'', August 1951
Same Situation -- Same Strategy
''Baseball Digest'', January 1952
Overhead Exposure
''Baseball Digest'', May 1952
'Caught' Both Tiger No-Hitters
(

Oscar Stanage Oscar Harland Stanage (March 17, 1883 – November 11, 1964) was an American baseball catcher. He played professional baseball for 24 years from 1903 to 1926, including 13 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers. A native of Tu ...

), ''Baseball Digest'', August 1952 *"Tip From Ted Kept Kaline Swinging Bat All Winter," ''The Sporting News'', March 3, 1954, page 4
Tigers Hope He's A House Afire
( Frank House), ''Baseball Digest'', May 1954
The law of the pot and the kettle ...
''

Sports Illustrated ''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twic ...

'', October 4, 1954
Kaline's a Big Man Now
(

), ''Baseball Digest'', May 1955
Big Pitchers Grow in Cages
''Baseball Digest'', June 1955
The File on Kaline
''Baseball Digest'', July 1955 *"Lip Gives Kaline Pay-Boost Advice," ''The Sporting News'', November 16, 1955, page 7
Will Tape Measure Hurt Mickey?
''Baseball Digest'', August 1956
Mantle Wastes Talent!
''Baseball Digest'', June 1957
Standing Ducks
''Baseball Digest'', July 1957
They Called Him a Busher
(

Joe McCarthy Joseph Raymond McCarthy (November 14, 1908 – May 2, 1957) was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. Beginning in 1950, McCarthy became the most vis ...

), ''Baseball Digest'', August 1957
After 47 Straight N.Y. Wins
''Baseball Digest'', December 1957
20-Game Winners a Luxury!
''Baseball Digest'', May 1958
Meet the Tigers' New Manager
( Bill Norman), ''Baseball Digest'', August 1958
If Hitchcock Wrote Diamond History
''Baseball Digest'', March 1959
They Finally Separated the Wheat from the Chaff
(

Zack Wheat Zachariah Davis Wheat (May 23, 1888 – March 11, 1972), nicknamed "Buck", was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a left fielder from 1909 to 1927, most notably as a member of the Brooklyn Do ...

), ''Baseball Digest'', April 1959
The Day the Mighty Met
''Baseball Digest'', July 1959
Revival Time in the A.L.
''Baseball Digest'', August 1959
N0Hit Pitchers Fall by Wayside
''Baseball Digest'', September 1959
The Gashouse Gang -- Laughing Gas, That Is
''Baseball Digest'', July 1960
How About Rotating Pilots?
''Baseball Digest'', January 1961
One of the Wildest Games Ever
''Baseball Digest'', August 1961
Some Rules Are A Bit Wavy
''Baseball Digest'', May 1962
Why Stengel Nixed Detroit Job, then Took Mets' Offer
(

Casey Stengel Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel (; July 30, 1890 – September 29, 1975) was an American Major League Baseball right fielder and manager, best known as the manager of the championship New York Yankees of the 1950s and later, the expansion New York ...

), ''Baseball Digest'', May 1962
How York Used Batting Science to Set Homer Mark
(

Rudy York Preston Rudolph York (August 17, 1913 – February 5, 1970) was an American professional baseball player, coach, scout, and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher and a first baseman between and , most notably as a member of the ...

), ''Baseball Digest'', July 1962
Bus Ride Back to Stardom?
''Baseball Digest'', July 1963
What the Braves Owe to Milwaukee
''Baseball Digest'', September 1964
It's First Time in 49 Years There's No Dykes on Field
''Baseball Digest'', May 1965
Beat the Clock!
(

Bobby Bragan Robert Randall Bragan (October 30, 1917 – January 21, 2010) was an American shortstop, catcher, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball and an influential minor league executive. His professional baseball career encompassed 73 years, from hi ...

), ''Baseball Digest'', September 1965

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Lyalll 1914 births 1991 deaths Baseball writers Detroit Free Press people Sportswriters from Michigan Writers from Peoria, Illinois 20th-century American non-fiction writers Sportswriters from Illinois